Theresa May wants postBrexit UK to stay best place in Europe for

UK Prime Minister Theresa May spoke at the opening of UK tech week. Daniel Leal-olivas / AFP/Getty Images Brexit is coming, the prime minister is going, and meanwhile the British tech industry waits to see whether it’ll retain its lead in the London tech scene.For the current leader of the UK, Theresa May, ensuring the country continues to attract the best tech talent and new businesses is a priority, she said speaking at the launch of London Tech Week on Monday.”I want to make sure Britain stays the best place in Europe to launch and grow startup,” said the outgoing prime minister, who resigned as leader of the Conservative Party last week and will step down as the country’s leader as soon as a successor is appointed. “We want this to be the place everyone thinks of, and comes to, first when they want to develop their world-changing tech ideas.”The UK is currently home to 20 out of the 64 billion-dollar tech companies (often referred to as unicorns) in Europe, with research released by the government on Monday showing that 13 such companies were formed in the country in the last year alone. London was also the top destination in Europe for technology investment in 2018, attracting nearly double the amount of funding than its nearest rival Berlin.The British tech sector is growing over one and a half times faster than the rest of the economy, adding more than £130 billion to the country’s economy every year, said May. But in spite of its current strength, the UK’s position as Europe’s tech leader is under threat. With the deadline for the UK leaving the EU pushed to the end of October, there remains significant uncertainty in the tech industry and beyond about what the impact will be on the British tech sector.”For the existing and established companies, whatever happens, these companies will be prepared,” said Taavet Hinrikus, CEO and co-founder of financial tech company TransferWise, also speaking at the Tech Week launch event. New companies, on the other hand, will have to weigh whether its worthwhile for them to build a business in the country, he said.May said that key to securing the UK’s future as a leader in tech will be securing relationships with international partners around the world — something the government will do through upcoming future economy trade missions. The UK also boasts a strong regulatory environment, said May, which should ensure it remains a good place to do business for big tech and new players alike. Now playing: Watch this: 0 Share your voice Tech Industry The UK may make tech companies clean up social media’s… 2:18 Post a comment Tags “The right regulation is what makes capitalism work,” she said. “It’s been true of previous technological revolutions, but government, and the sector as it becomes more mature, now see smart regulation as part of a thriving digital economy, rather than a threat to innovation.”The prime minister used the Tech Week launch event opportunity to announce a raft of investments — both from the government and industry — in UK tech totaling £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion). Quantum computing is a major recipient of the funding, along with programs where people can take AI and data conversion courses.May also announced the launch of a tech competitiveness study, which will be conducted by industry partners including Microsoft. The aim is to identify opportunities and support for digital businesses in order to ensure the UK retains its current lead. “If we’re going to maintain our position as global leader, our challenge is how we develop British tech and make it even better,” she said.

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Gov. Bill Walker is proposing a new tax to close part of the gap between what the state government spends and what it brings in.Listen nowThe tax would be a flat 1.5 percent of wages and self-employment income. But there would be a limit in how much anyone pays.No one would pay more than twice what they receive in an Alaska Permanent Fund dividend.State Commissioner of Revenue Sheldon Fisher said the administration decided against asking for more new revenue bills.“We feel like we are most successful – and when I say we, I mean the administration and the Legislature working together – are most successful when there’s a single item of focus,” Fisher said.Both state residents and non-Alaskans working in the state would pay the tax.Administration officials have a mouthful of a name for the tax: the “capped hybrid head tax.” It’s not a true head tax, in which every person pays the same amount.But it’s also different than most of the tax proposals the House considered this year, since everyone whose pay is above a certain ceiling would pay the same amount. This year, that amount would have been $147,000.Fisher said the tax wouldn’t be applied to all forms of income.“It does not tax capital and, therefore, it should encourage … investments in the state,” Fisher said. “It also does not tax retirement income, so we know that’s a matter that’s sensitive to many of our retirees that are on a fixed income.”The tax would raise about $320 million. That would still leave a significant budget gap, even if the Legislature passes a bill that draws money from permanent fund earnings. State officials said the gap next year would be between $200 million and $500 million.Administration officials said the Legislature should decide how to close the gap. Options include spending from state savings, other new revenue or additional cuts.If the Legislature passes the tax, it would start in January 2019. It would require as many as 50 new state workers to administer.Walker plans to call the Legislature into a special session on Oct. 23 to consider the tax and a bill that would increase sentences for some crimes.

The general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit was reportedly assaulted on Friday by a former BCL leader of the unit over establishing supremacy on the campus.The incident took place in front of Shaheed Salam Barkat Hall around 10:30pm when former JU BCL secretary and former vice-president of central committee Razib Ahmed Rasel assaulted him.After being assaulted, JU unit general secretary SM Abu Sufian Chanchal left the place.However, a tensed situation was prevailing on the campus over the incident.According to the witnesses, former GS and also former central committee vice-president Razib Ahmed Rasel came to the campus and met Chanchal in front of SSB Hall to discuss over the faction. At one stage, Razib got angered and slapped him, they said.Seeking anonymity a vice-president of the university unit said, “For a long time, an internal clash was prevailing between them over establishing supremacy on the campus. Although Chanchal was loyal to Razib, he also started to maintain liaison with BCL central committee president Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon.”The crisis was deepened cantering the last programme of the university marking the prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s reception on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway on Thursday where the factions observed the programme separately.Expressing dissatisfaction, some leaders and activists of the university unit criticised the incident. They were exclaimed on how an ex-leader could assault a running leader.Denying the allegation, Razib, however, said, “Chanchal was loyal to my panel but he tried to make ‘faction’. Some senior leaders of the university unit called me to settle the matter. I angrily questioned him about the matter and no incident of assault was happened there.”However, Chanchal also denied the assaulting incident. He said that an altercation was held between us.Contacted, assistant proctor Mohibur Rouf Shaibal said, “There was no such incident but an altercation was happened between them.”Later, they solved the issue with mutual discussion, he added.

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader. File PhotoThe physicians at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore are thinking of conducting a bypass surgery on ailing minister Obaidul Quader, said a Bangladeshi physician on Tuesday, reports UNB.He, however, said it will take some time as Quader has slight problems in his kidneys and developed infections.A medical board constituted with Koh Siam Soon Philip, a senior consultant of cardiology department of the hospital, as its head examined him on Tuesday morning and briefed about the treatment.Professor Abu Nasar Rizvi of the Neuromedicine department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) who accompanied the road transport and bridges minister and Awami League general secretary gave an update of the treatment for the media based on the briefing of the medical board.He said the minister was taken to the hospital around 11:00pm local time on Monday and a medical board was constituted on an emergency basis.Apart from Philip, there are cardiothoracic surgeon Sivathasan Cumaraswamy, infectious disease specialist Asok Kurup, urologist Ho Siew Hong and intensive care medicine specialist Sim Kah Ming in the medical board, Rizvi said.He said the medical board extensively examined and observed Quader and sat with them on Tuesday morning and gave their feedback.They said the minister has problems in his kidneys and some infections. “They’re thinking of conducting a bypass surgery after controlling the kidney problems and infections in a few days.”Rizvi said the minister’s condition is now stable and on the mend.He also said the medical board appreciated the initial management of the situation in Bangladesh.The medical board will brief on the treatment at 12:30pm Wednesday, local time.Quader’s wife Isratunnesa Quader, Bangladesh high commissioner to Singapore Mostafizur Rahman, Ekramul Karim Chowdhury, MP, Nizam Hazari, MP, Dhaka South city Awami League general secretary M Shahe Alam Murad and Gazipur city mayor M Jahangir Alam were present at the briefing.Meanwhile, additional secretary Belayet Hossain of the Road Transport and Highways Division here said the condition of ailing minister Obaidul Quader has improved and the medical team of Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore examined him around 10:00am (BST), said an official here.After the checkup, the physicians said that his condition is now good, he said.It will decide about the tests to be conducted on him, Belayet said, adding that a CT scan will be done today.The minister was flown to Singapore on Monday for better treatment following the advice of renowned Indian cardiologist Devi Shetty.He was admitted to the CCU of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in the capital on Sunday morning following his breathing complications.Later, physicians found three blockages in his coronary arteries following an angiogram.